University of San Francisco The Eternal Sunshine of Spotless Mind Film Essay

I’m studying for my Film class and don’t understand how to answer this. Can you help me study?

The completed Term Essay must be at least 1,500 words (worth 300 points). Your revised, developed version of your Term Essay must include a detailed analysis of the film, which is a cohesive discussion with evidence of its characteristic components—yet much more than plot summary. In fact, plot summaries should be kept to a minimum (brief plot summaries or references are acceptable in support of an interpretive point). However, the Term Essay is a writing project in which you are expected to contribute an original essay on a film of your choosing (approved films are listed in Modules). You are discouraged from drawing upon professional reviews, either from the Internet or other sources.Your term essay should express, in clear language, the fundamental elements of the film, followed by your concrete judgment as to whether it is a good film, a poor film, or something in between. Do not leave your reader in doubt as to your overall judgment about the success or failure of the film.

• The first part of your Term Essay should be analytical. You want to explore how the different parts of the film come together and generate certain effects in (some) viewers. You cannot generalize for all viewers, but the effects on you are very important and should be articulated. Your Term Essay must include a thesis statement or a purpose of analysis, which is a discussion of its characteristic components.
• The second part of your Term Essay, the evaluative component, asks you to make an articulate judgment (or series of judgments) about the film. In other words, you should indicate whether the film lives up to its potential (or fails to do so). You should have some clear criteria of evaluation in making your overall judgment (your descriptive criteria will provide you with supporting material here). One critical component in evaluation is effect. What effect(s) does the film have on you and how or why? Are these effects appropriate to the genre? Does the film introduce effects that are relatively innovative and new for you? How does this film compare with other films of the same genre with which you are familiar?